Grand River Repaving & Water Main Replacement Through Howell Planned For 2020

February 13, 2018

Road repairs are planned for a portion of Grand River that runs through the City of Howell.

The Michigan Department of Transportation will be repaving Grand River from M-59 to National Street in the summer of 2020. The work will consist of a two-inch mill and overlay and will be funded entirely by MDOT. Because the project will entail major pavement upheaval, the city is looking to coordinate the work with a separate project.

Replacement of the Grand River water main from the viaduct to Highlander Way is included in the city’s 10-year infrastructure plan. City Manager Shea Charles says officials are trying to determine when they want to tackle the water main project.

Notes from a recent council retreat work session indicate officials only want to tear up Grand River’s pavement once, however replacement of the approximately 100-year-old water main could be split up over a number of years. The water main is reported to be past its service life, being deficient in size and fire flow. The replacement project is expected to cost around $6 million dollars.

At their retreat, council members agreed staff should begin preparing a debt schedule and rate tolerance, as well as look into preliminary engineering. A potential timeline for coordinating the water main and MDOT’s pavement project could come before council next month. (DK)